The way that we climbed : a history of Irish hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering

Hillwalking is Ireland's most widely practised leisure activity today. Rock climbing has developed to a level of technical excellence with crags in almost every county and numerous indoor climbing walls. Irish mountaineers have completed a winter ascent of the Eiger's North Face, scaled the highest Himalayan peaks and other previously unclimbed giants, and explored hitherto unknown valleys. Paddy O'Leary recounts the history of hillwalking and mountaineering in Ireland, and shows that the early climbing scene was a reflection of, and not escape from, wider social issues: from the early activists - some were involved in gun running, others died at Gallipoli - to the turn of the millennium, when mountaineering in Ireland was no longer the preserve of the middle class. This history recounts the adventures, dangers, successes and failures which make this multifaceted activity such a fascinating one, and mirrors the spirit of all who love these places. Hillwalking is one of Ireland's most popular leisure activities today. Rock climbing has developed to a level of technical excellence with crags in almost every county and numerous indoor climbing walls. Irish mountaineers have completed winter ascents in the Alps, scaled the highest Himalayan peaks and other previously unclimbed giants, and explored hitherto unknown valleys. Paddy O'Leary recounts the history of hillwalking and mountaineering in Ireland: from the early activists – some were involved in gunrunning, others died at Gallipoli – until the turn of the millennium, when mountaineering in Ireland was no longer the preserve of the middle class. This history recounts the adventures, dangers, successes and failures which make this multifaceted activity such a fascinating one, and mirrors the spirit of all who love these places. • Also available: The Longest Road by Sean Rothery Cover; Title Page; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgements; Glossary of Mountaineering Terms; Climb Gradings; Introduction; Prologue; 1. A Break in a Day's Walk; 2. Comrade Lysenko and The Affables; 3. Where Does the Fugitive Prince lie?; 4. West Face of the Dru; 5. Distant Ranges and Domestic Strife; 6. Fianna Warriors and Hillwalking Challenges; 7. The Walker Spur and Freney Pillar; 8. Coastal Tour; 9. On Five Continents; 10. A Shift Sideways; 11. FMCI/MI, Rescue Training; 12. Winter on the Eiger Nordwand; 13. Ama Dablam, Manaslu, Everest; Epilogue; Endnotes; Select Bibliography